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Thursday, August 27, 2009

In the rush to canonize Bruce Springsteen back in the ’70s, several other New Jersey musical deities were shunted unfairly into a secondary position. Chief among them was John Lyon and his band of R&B-flecked rockers. Although plagued by a lack of commercial success and bad luck with record companies, Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes have consistently risen above it all to craft shiver-inducing studio offerings and sweat-drenched live recordings, the latest being the brand-new concert CD Hearts of Stone (also the name of their 1978 album). Lyon began self-releasing albums eight years ago, maintaining control and making music his way without label interference. He may not have Bruce’s platinum records or Grammys, but among his legion of fans, Southside Johnny’s blistering club appearances are every bit as anticipated as the Boss’ epic arena shows. The concert starts at 9 p.m. at House of Blues (308 Euclid Ave., 216.523.2583). Tickets: $27.50 advance, $30 day of show. — Brian Baker

Jean-Yves Thibaudet once told an interviewer that because he has both of his hands, he learned all of Maurice Ravel’s piano works except the one in D Major, which was composed for the left hand only. He thought playing music for only half of his functional digits was “silly.” Booked to perform the piece at London’s Proms classical-music festival, he had to learn Ravel’s left-hand concerto and became captivated by its dark, stormy power (Ravel composed the work on commission by Austrian pianist Paul Wittgenstein, who was shot in the elbow during World War I and had his right arm amputated). The music takes an athletic skill to perform: A soloist must work the full length of the keyboard with one hand for up to 20 minutes. Thibaudet performs the piece tonight as part of an all-French music program that also includes Hector Berlioz’ overture “Le Corsaire,” Gabriel Faure’s suite from Pelleas and Melisande and Claude Debussy’s musical portrait of the sea, La Mer. James Gaffigan conducts. Showtime is 8 p.m. at Blossom Music Center (1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216.231.1111, clevelandorchestra.com). Tickets: $19-$82. — Michael Gill

Over the past 21 years, Big Sandy & His Fly Rite Boys have morphed from purveyors of frenetic rockabilly to masters of Western swing and the more traditional arm of country music, without losing one iota of the energy and passion that they’ve exhibited from the very start. They started out in Southern California in 1988, sporting R&B and Bakersfield country influences (one of the band’s early singles was even released as a 78). Five years later, the Boys began shifting from R&B/rockabilly to more foundational Western swing. After a 1998 solo album and a tour with Los Straitjackets in 2001, Big Sandy released It’s Time in 2003 and, two years later, Turntable Matinee, which found the band venturing into new musical territory like Memphis soul and bossa nova. Where will Big Sandy & His Fly Rite Boys land next? Wherever their endless swinging conga line takes them. Eilen Jewell opens at 9 p.m. at the Beachland Tavern (15711 Waterloo Rd., 216.383.1124). Tickets: $12. — Brian Baker

Mississippi-born jazz pianist, singer and songwriter Mose Allison has influenced countless musicians, including the Rolling Stones, the Who and the Clash. He’s penned more than 150 songs — most of them combining sharp, caustic wit with a great sense of irony. “Your Mind Is on Vacation” admonishes an acquaintance for blabbering on; “Getting There” gently mocks the fact that he hasn’t lost all hope — yet. Allison hasn’t released any new material since 2002, but he still performs regularly, despite being 81 years old. Expect to hear a mix of originals and standards at his shows. Like most elder statesmen of jazz, Allison doesn’t follow a fixed set list, preferring instead to be inspired by his audience. He plays at 8 and 10 p.m. tonight and tomorrow at Nighttown (12387 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Hts., 216.795.0550). Tickets: $20. — Ernest Barteldes

If you’re one of those music fans who wishes At the Drive-In had never broken up and mewithoutYou had never gone the acoustic-psych path, chances are you’ll like Native. The Indiana quartet play the kind of gnarled, intricate and intelligent post-hardcore those two other bands are known for, and they do it with the same balls-out spirit. With guitar work that relies a little bit on jazz, spazzy and hip-jolting rhythms, experimental flourishes and a piss-and-vinegar fueled frontman, Native craft free-roaming, five-minute mini-epics that never get stale. If prog-rock was down with basement shows instead of stadium-sized gigs, chaotic complexity instead of extended solos and raw throats rather than operatic pipes, we’d have a whole slew of bands like Native. But for now, they seem to have the multi-part, musically adept, post-hardcore market cornered. Two Hand Fools, Antilles and Positive open at 9 p.m. at Now That’s Class (11213 Detroit Ave., 216.221.8576). Tickets: $5. — Matt Whelihan

Back in December — when most of us were considering doing away with cigarettes, desserts or some other vice for the new year — Andy Bindernagel was pondering what he could add to his life. The final decision? Three-hundred-and-sixty-five days’ worth of facial hair. After nearly eight months of not shaving, Bindernagel may look like a cross between Charles Manson and Genghis Khan, but he’s letting his face run wild for a good reason. So far his fundraiser — appropriately titled Year of the Beard — has raised more than $1,600 for Cleveland's Domestic Violence Center. Bindernagel gathered these donations through monthly sponsorships on his website, sales of Year of the Beard T-shirts and a raffle held at McCarthy’s Ale House back in March. This week he’ll hold his second fundraising event, at Forti’s Bourbon, Beer & Eatery (746 Prospect Ave., 216.575.0226). Bindernagel — and a well-whiskered friend — will be guest “beard-tending.” The two may have more experience avoiding razors than bartending, but happy-hour prices and knowing that all tips will go to Year of the Beard should be reason enough to stop by. The event runs from 8 p.m.-midnight. It’s free. — Matt Whelihan

You can find David Davis’ large, abstract sculptures all over town — from a work that resembles a large basketball balanced on a domino sitting on the front lawn of the Beck Center to “Bridge to Knowledge,” a huge piece at the Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Beachwood branch that looks a little like folded paper. Davis’ familiarity with large public sculptures landed him the job of overseeing the installation of Isamu Noguchi’s “Portal” at the Justice Center. Cleveland owes the late sculptor a debt of gratitude — not only for these pieces, but also for founding the Sculpture Center, which marks its 20th anniversary with an exhibit of his smaller works. The Sculpture of David E. Davis: Celebrating the 20 Year Legacy opens with a reception from 5:30-8 p.m. The exhibit runs through October 24, at the Sculpture Center (1834 E. 123rd St., 216.229.6527). It’s free. — Michael Gill